Top 5 undrafted free agents in Miami Heat history

Udonis Haslem #40 of the Miami Heat reacts after a basket in the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals at AmericanAirlines Arena on May 30, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Udonis Haslem #40 of the Miami Heat reacts after a basket in the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals at AmericanAirlines Arena on May 30, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The Heat enter Thursday’s NBA Draft with no picks.

But after the draft, expect Miami to be very active in search of promising undrafted players. The Heat have had some luck in the past with undrafted free agents.

Here are the top five undrafted free agents in Miami Heat history. To qualify for the list, the player has to have started his NBA career with the Heat.

1. Udonis Haslem: This guy’s No. 40 jersey number will likely be retired by the Heat. Does anything else need to be said? Miami signed Haslem as an undrafted free agent in 2003. Since then, the University of Florida product has been a key part of the Heat’s rotation and has played a role on each of the franchise’s three championship teams. Haslem has averaged 7.9 points and seven rebounds over his 13-year NBA career — all with the Heat. The Miami native’s hustle, toughness and grittiness has made him a fan favorite. Haslem has played in more playoff games than any undrafted player in NBA history and is the Heat’s all-time leading rebounder.

2. Keith Askins: Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama in 1990, Askins spent nine seasons with the Heat. When Askins was released by Miami in 1999, he left as the Heat’s all-time leader in games played. Even though Askins was limited offensively, averaging just 3.8 points over his NBA career, he earned playing time because of his defensive ability. But Askins’ days with Miami didn’t end when he was done playing, he spent 14 seasons as a Heat assistant coach and is now the team’s director of college and pro scouting. Similar to Haslem, Askins is a Heat guy.

3. Joel Anthony: Offense was not Anthony’s strength, but his athleticism and shot-blocking ability made him a force on the defensive end. Anthony was signed by the Heat as an undrafted free agent out of UNLV in 2007 and spent six-plus seasons with the franchise. In addition, he was an important part of Miami’s back-to-back championship run in 2012 and 2013. Anthony averaged 2.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 blocks during his Heat tenure. The Heat traded Anthony to the Celtics in a three-team trade in 2014.

4. Anthony Carter: After going undrafted in 1998, Carter began his NBA career with the Heat in 1999. The point guard spent four seasons with the Heat and averaged 5.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists in his time with the franchise. But his impact stretches beyond the floor. Carter failed to notify the Heat by the June 30 deadline that he intended to invoke the player option on the final season of his contract, making him a free agent. That error opened up the cap space for the Heat to sign Lamar Odom, who Miami used as a big piece in the blockbuster trade to acquire Shaquille O’Neal. The rest is history, as the duo of O’Neal and Dwyane Wade led the Heat to their first NBA title in 2006. So basically, Carter played a role in Miami’s first championship without even being on the roster.